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Pakistan communalising polity in J&K: Marwah NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Slamming the "power structure in theocratic Pakistan" for dividing the secular polity in Jammu and...more ‘INS
Mysore’ affiliated MUMBAI, Nov 17: The Indian Army and the Indian Navy took another step forward in their quest for jointmanship when the western fleet’s premier ...more Pondy
to introduce PONDICHERRY, Nov 17: The Pondicherry administration will soon introduce a land bank scheme under which lands will be ....more "I
am no novice, NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Branded as a lightweight by media and dubbed as a novice by political....more |
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Love, compassion NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Baba Hardev Singh, head of the sant Nirankari mission has said that no service is big or small, what matters is the spirit and faith. ....more Congress demands immediate arrest of Judeo NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Signalling that the Dilip Singh Judeo graft issue would figure prominently in its election campaign, Congress today demanded ....more Digvijay
sues Uma, BHOPAL, Nov 17: Taking strong exception to levelling of corruption charges ......more AIZAWL, Nov 17: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today picked BJP as the main target in the Mizoram assembly ......more |
Pakistan communalising polity in J&K: Marwah NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Slamming the "power structure in theocratic Pakistan" for dividing the secular polity in Jammu and Kashmir along communal lines, Jharkhand Governor and former supercop Ved Marwah has said that the main goal of Islamabad’s domestic and foreign policy is the break-up of the Indian union. "In a state, where the overwhelming population was against communal politics at the time of partition, the fudamentalist forces have managed to penetrate into the secular polity," he said while delivering a talk on ‘India’s internal security challenges’ here recently. Expressing concern at the rise of fundamenatist forces in India’s neighbouring "hostile states", the former convenor of the internal security cell of the National Security Council said this was the most serious threat to India’s security. "Unfortunately, the rise of contentious politics based on sectarian, ethnic, linguistic or other divisive criteria is primarily responsible for the many communal and secessionist movements flourishing in India. The presence of hostile neighbours enables the internal conflicts to get external support, which includes money, arms and sanctuaries. The vested interests exploit these conditions to pursue their own agenda," said Mr Marwah. "The intelligence agencies in our neighbourhood and the organisations, like the Al-Qaida and the Jaish-e-Mohammad, are encouraging the so-called ‘Jehadis’ to enter India... Fired with religious zeal... These forces are not only indulging in subversive activities, but are spreading the virus of fundamentalism among the Indian Muslims," he pointed out. The power structure in Pakistan, dominated by the army, feudal lords, the bureaaucracy and the religious leaders has been able to retain its hold over the levers of power by playing the anti-India and Islamic cards, he noted. Pakistan did not miss any opportunity to play the Islamic card in its foreign policy too and tried to club India as an anti-Islamic country where Muslims were not safe, he observed. He conceded that Pakistan’s efforts had "succeeded only when our own political mismanagement provided it with an opportunity to intervene, as in 1965 and again in 1989." While welcoming the Centre’s recent move to appoint Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani to talk to the separatist Hurriyat Conference in the state, he cautioned that India would have to regain the initiative both on the political as well as diplomatic fronts and not allow Pakistan to set the Kashmir agenda. While pointing out that Ppakistan had no legal case on Kkashmir he said the initial hesitation of Raja Hari Singh to sign the instrument of accession and India’s offer to hold a plebiscite in the state had "given Pakistan an excuse to challenge the legality of the accession." Mr Marwah said "waging of a proxy war fits into Pakistan’s designs of bleeding India," as that country had been unable to grab Jammu and Kashmir by force. The weakness of the administrative system in the state had only enabled Pakistan to carry forward its evil design and it had actively encouraged the anti-national forces and succeeded in building a pro-Pakistan base in the State. Underlining the need to speed up development work in the state and address the problems faced by the people, he said the ground situation did not justify over-optimism and there would be "many ups and downs on this long tortuous road to peace." Stressing that development could be an effective "antidote" to militancy, Mr Marwah, who was a former Governor of Manipur, said in a well-established political system and a developed economy, conflicts were kept under check and got assimilated in the national identity in due course. In India, the democratic institutions and state structures were still not strong enough to harmonise these conflicts in a peaceful manner, he noted. When these conflicting interests could not be consensually reconciled, it led to violence. "The hostile external forces, taking advantage of this situation through subversive propaganda, further accentuate these conflicts." He regretted that in their lust for power, some Governments had actually joined hands with the anti-national forces. They did not view the problem from a long-term perspective but "bought temporary peace by compromising with the subversive forces." Coming down hard on the security forces, he said even some sections of the police force ompromised with the rebels. Thus the police-politician-criminal nexus emboldened the criminal elements and alienated the people. Development was the casualty of the increasing lawless and criminal atmosphere with even the delivery of the most basic services like water, power, healthcare, education and communication becomes a stupendous task.’’ (UNI) |
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‘INS Mysore’ affiliated with Madras regiment MUMBAI, Nov 17: The Indian Army and the Indian Navy took another step forward in their quest for jointmanship when the western fleet’s premier combatant ‘INS Mysore’ and the Madras regiment, signed a charter of affiliation on board the ‘INS Mysore’ at the naval dockyard here this morning. The document was signed by Madras Regimental Centre Commandant Brig G Athmanathan and ‘INS Mysore’ Commanding Officer Capt Arvind Raj Vardhan in the presence of Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) western fleet rear Admiral Vijay Shankar and Lt Gen Dinesh Singh Chauhan, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Central Command and the Colonel of the Madras regiment. In a brief interaction with the media after the formal ceremony, Lt Gen Chauhan said while sharing the joy and peace, the affiliation is part of the process in working together in not just peace, but future operational tasks too. Rear Admiral Vijay Shankar said the basic aim is to realise unity and achieve tasks together. Earlier in his brief address, Lt Gen Chauhan recalled the rich tradition of maritime history and valour of the soldiers of the Madras regiment, the descendants of the Cholas, the Pandiyas, Telugus and the Cheras whose history of valour is unparalleled. The relationship between ‘Mysore’ and the Madras regiment is rooted in history and could be traced to Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan of the princely staste of Mysore. The heroism displayed by these two valiant rulers against the British and several other Indian rulers is legendary and is, now, part of the regimental folklore. The bravery displayed by these soldiers of the Mysore Army is well chronicled in the annals of history. Post Independence, the infantry battalion from the Mysore Army merged with the Madras regiment as 18 Madras (Mysore battalion). While the Madras regiment is one of the most decorated regiments with one Ashok Chakra, five Mahavir Chakras, one Uttam Yudh Seva medal, nine Kiri Chakras, 24 Shaurya Chakras and 167 Sena medals, the ‘INS Mysore’ is a sophisticated state-of-the-art indigenously built (Mazagon docks) destroyer equipped with a formidable package of weapons, sensors, machinery and equipment that navies of most nations envy. Mysore has 16 surface-to-surface missiles, Ka battery of surface-to-air missiles, a 100 MM range gun, two 30 MM short range rapid fire gatling guns, two state-of-the-art point defence missile systems, torpedoes, anti-submarine rockets and decoys. She carries two ‘Sea King’ multi-role helicopters, which are formidable force multipliers and has participated in ‘OP Vijay’ and in the northern Arabian Sea foray in ‘OP Parakram’ in mid-2001. The new ‘INS Mysore’ is the reincarnation of the indomitable spirit of her predecessor of the same name, which from the 50s to the 70s was India’s most powerful ship and had a distinguished history. She was commissioned as ‘HMS Nigeria’ in the royal navy in August 1940, and later commissioned into the Indian Navy on August 29, 1957, and played a vital role in the liberation of Goa and was the flagship of the Flag Officer Commanding Western fleet during the blockade of Karachi in the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict. (UNI) |
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Pondy to introduce new scheme to promote tourism PONDICHERRY, Nov 17: The Pondicherry administration will soon introduce a land bank scheme under which lands will be acquired and utilised for tourism promotion in the Union Territory. Informing this to reporters here, Tourism Minister K Lakshminarayanan said lands would be acquired in bulk at Chunnambaar, Ariyankuppam, Kuruvinatham and Ousteri areas and be provided to those who come forward to take up tourism promotional activities here. The minister, who returned here yesterday after attending the four-day world tourism mart in London, described his trip successful and said the officials of the Taj group of hotels and a businessman from Scotland had approached him seeking land to construct hotels in Pondicherry. Awareness about Pondicherry had already been created in foreign countries, which was evident from the response he received while doing a phone-in programme on the deepam online network in London and also a brief programme on BBC Tamil OSAI, he said. Mr Lakshminarayanan said that a Memorandum of Understanding would be signed with Sri Lanka during the visit of that country’s Tourism Secretary to Pondicherry next year. The minister said he had held a discussion with bbc (Asia-Pacific) Chief Barry Langridge and obtained his permission to utilise the educational programmes of the BBC radio through the educational FM radio for the benefit of local students. Mr Langridge had even promised to give the receiver free of cost and the matter would be taken up with the Union Government, he said. The administration proposed to declare tourism as an industry and provide loans through the Pondicherry Industrial Promotion Development and Investment Corporation for Tourism Promotional Activities, he added. Mr Lakshminarayanan pointed out that presently stamp duty exemption was being given to those purchasing land here for the purpose of promoting tourism. Steps were being taken to preserve the heritage buildings here, he said and added that the Pondicherry administration and INTAC would sign an MoU here tomorrow in this regard. He said the inflow of domestic and foreign tourists was increasing by 17 to 20 per cent every year and the absence of luxury tax in hotels here proved to be an added advantage. The acquisition of land at the historical Arikkamedu was over and 35 acres of land had already been handed over to the ASI. Pondicherry was gradually being developed into a film city, he observed and said the Government was ready to provide any facility for film shooting. The minister said Pondicherry was being divided into eight zones under a cleanliness campaign and the cleanest zone would be suitably rewarded. The bifurcation of the Pondicherry Tourism and Transport Development Corporation into Tourism Development Corporation and Transport Development Corporation was on, he added. (UNI) |
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Digvijay sues Uma, hearing on Dec 15 BHOPAL, Nov 17: Taking strong exception to levelling of corruption charges by BJP leader Uma Bharti against him, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh today filed a defamation suit against her in a local Court which issued summons asking her to appear before it on December 15. Accompanied by his counsel, the Chief Minister filed the libel suit in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate N S Dixit seeking registration of a criminal case against Bharti and punishment to her for trying to tarnish his image through "false and baseless" allegatoins. The suit did not seek any monetary compensation. While filing the suit, Singh pointed out that the election code restricts levelling of charges of personal nature in the run up to elections. "I feel insulted due to Uma Bharti’s repeated allegations branding me as a corrupt and dishonest. This is not a political matter as her charges are of personal nature. How long can I tolerate. There is a limit for everything," the Chief Minister later told reporters. "It is not a question of elections. It concerns my reputation," he said when asked about the significance of the development ahead of assembly polls in the state. The Chief Judicial Magistrate issued summons to Bharti, BJP Chief Ministerial candidate for state assembly polls, and fixed December 15 as the next date for hearing. (PTI) |
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AIZAWL, Nov 17: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today picked BJP as the main target in the Mizoram assembly polls leaving enough indication that the Congress was positioning itself for political realignment after the election. Mrs Gandhi surprised everyone by targetting only the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Mizo National Front (MNF) leaving aside the Mizoram Peoples Conference-Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) combine. She said the BJP along with MNF are trying to destroy the very fabric of the Mizo society. "The BJP has brought the nation to a moral crisis and now the people of Mizoram should stay away from the party," she cautioned. Her silence towards the MPC-ZNP has fuelled speculation of a post poll alliance with the combine to keep the BJP and MNF at bay. Notably, the BJP is fighting in only eight seats and does not have any alliance. But the Congress president said BJP had a secret pact with the MNF. "BJP’s manipulation, blatant corruption in defence deals, selling of PSUs have brought the nation to moral bankruptcy. This can be stopped by supporting the Congress only," she said. She said the last five years of ‘misrule’ of the MNF Government was the main impediment to the state’s progress. "I do not know why the national highway project of east west corridor stops at Silchar and is not extended up to Aizawl," she remarked. Urging people to be cautious of the BJP’s ‘nefarious’ design, Mrs Gandhi said, "if you want to save your future and your children then support us. Stop the ulterior designs of MNF and the BJP. We must be careful that what happened in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh is not repeated in Mizoram." Mrs Gandhi also took a dig for not being allowed to hold a public rally. "I am sorry that I have to address the meeting inside a hall as some people are scared of us. But that will not diminish our strength on the polling day when we will emerge winner." She had to address the meeting at Vanapa hall in front of only a thousand odd people, as the Assam rifles parade ground was made inaccessible for her election rally. There were hundreds of people on the road also listening to her speech. Using an interpreter, she reminded that the Congress had to sacrifice an elected Government for ushering in peace and prosperity for the people of Mizoram after the historic Mizo accord was signed. Criticizing the BJP for trying to bring their ‘evil’ design in a peaceful state like Mizoram, she said economic prosperity would not help the MNF and BJP because they wanted to exploit the sentiments of ordinary people. The BJP brought in forces of religious intolerance in this country and now were trying ot get that in Mizoram also. Educational institutions were attacked and the sad part is that some secular parties had joined them for short term benefits, she regretted. Her 15-minute speech, punctured by enthusiastic claps of Congress supporters, however, exposed the secret deal the Congress was trying to achieve with the MPC-ZNP after the poll as they apprehended a hung assembly. Congress sources admitted that there was some resistance to such a deal at the local level but the AICC was confident of clinching a deal during the gap between the polling and counting days. (UNI) BJP manifesto promises multifaceted development BHOPAL, Nov 17: The BJP promises to give a clean administration besides assuring multifaceted development on all frontiers, in its election manifesto releasing the manifesto in the presence of Union Law Minister and party in-charge for MP Arun Jaitley, the BJP charged the ruling Congress with de-railing developmental works in the state. While promising a clean and efficient administration, the manifesto assured on charting a roadmap for multifaceted growth of the state. Re-induction of around 28000 daily wagers who were retrenched, abolishing of professional tax, removal of form 75 provision for giving relief to traders and enhancing employment facilities are some other promises spelt in the manifesto. On the power front, the manifesto says that it would make all efforts to rectify the loopholes in the transmission and distribution system. Besides, the pending power projects would be completed on a priority basis. The party would emulate the policies of the Vajpayee Government on roads and re-vamp the road network of the state, the manifesto outlines. The youth would be inculcated with modern modes of learning and efforts would be underlined to make the best use of local resources. The farmers would not be bogged by bills for electricity which they had not got, the manifesto states. The manifesto pronounces methods for bolstering industrial development of the state and boosting agro-related industries. The BJP would also prescribe several policies for enhancing employment opportunities in the state. This would include providing employment through knowledge based economy and it hubs. A greater emphasis would be laid on self employment. The manifesto states that indiscriminate felling of forests would be retired and cultivation of medicinal plants would be encouraged. Emphasis would be laid on women empowerment and making them self reliant. The 44-paged manifesto assures that besides economic empowerment for women, they would also be socially and politically uplifted.It also guarantees a spurt in rural employment by distilling urban facilities in the rural areas. (UNI) Haroon Yusuf’s nomination accepted NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Delhi Civil Supplies Minister Haroon Yusuf’s nomination, which was put on hold after his rivals from the BJP and the BSP raised objections to his candidature, was today cleared by the returning officer of Ballimaran. Mr Yyusuf’s nomination was contested on the ground that he was holding an office of profit as chairman of the Delhi Wakf Board. "As per the disqualification rules of the candidate, chairman of the Wakf Board is not an office of profit under the Government of India or the Government of a State or the Government of a Union Territory," sources in the election office told UNI. When contacted, Mr Yusuf said the office of the Wakf Board chairman was not even an office. "The Wakf Board is an autonomous body and its chairman neither enjoys salary nor perks," he said. "I was elected chairman by the elected members of the board." The minister said the Delhi Wakf Act envisages elections of its ten members, with one being an MP and one from the state assembly. "The act clearly says that the two legislators will not be disqualified from Parliament and the assembly even after joining the Wakf Board." Mr Yusuf said he had consulted Delhi Government’s standing counsel V K Sali ten days before filing his nomination, and "he told me that there was no technical problem in my candidature on account of being the chairman of the Wakf Board". Pointing out that the Delhi Wakf Board functioned on the pattern of the Central Wakf Board, he said Articles 191 and 204 of the Constitution stipulates that the holder of an office which does not fall directly under the Government of India or a State Government will not be disqualified. (UNI) Assam bandh halts normal life, stray incidents of violence GUWAHATI, Nov 17: Stray incidents of violence marred the 24-Assam bandh today, called by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), and brought normal life to a halt in the state. Two motor-bikes were torched while some private vehicles were forcibly seized in Jalukbari area near Guwahati university, sources said here today. A large number of AASU activists gheraoed the north east frontier railway headquarters at Maligaon and prevented railway employees and officers from entering their offices. The bandh has been called in protest against the assault on Assamese train passengers in Bihar and is being supported by several parties and organisations including AGP, BJP, all BODO Students Union (ABSU), North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) and others. A railway spokesman said all trains left Guwahati railway station this morning as per schedule, but they have no information on whether the trains are stranded on the way. "The exact information will be available at the controls but the bandh activists are preventing us from entering our offices and as such we do not have the upto date information," he said. Picketing and road blocks set up in different parts of the state by AASU activists have prevented people from reaching their destinations. All flights to and from Guwahati, however, operated as per schedule, airport sources said. Meanwhile, AASU Advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya claimed the bandh "was spontaneous, total and peaceful" with tremendous response from all sections. He said AASU activisits were picketing at railway headquarters in Maligaon, Guwahati university, Indian institute of technology, Guwahati and offices of several other central Government organisations. In upper Assam, the activists picketed at Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL), he added. Security all over the state has been tightened and a strict vigil is being maintained in sensitive parts of the state. All shops, educational institutions and commercial establishments were closed while attendance in Government offices and other organisations were thin although the State Government has directed concerned authorities to ensure that all Government offices function normally. (PTI) Naveen surprised over being linked to Judeo’s CD BHUBANESWAR, Nov 17: Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today termed as "baseless and ridiculous" the linking of his name in the controversy involving Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Dilip Singh Judev who was allegedly caught on camera accepting bribe. "Such insinuation is throughly baseless and ridiculous," Mr Patnaik, who arrived from Koraput, told reporters at the airport here. Mr Patnaik said he had just heard about the controversy and did not have the fulls fact with him adding he would closely look into the matter. The text of the video CD showing the Union Minister accepting bribe, reported in the ‘Indian Express’, quoted Mr Judeo’s personal secretary Natwar Rateria as stating that there would be no problem in getting the work done in orissa as the Naveen Patnaik Government was indebted to Mr Judev for the release of Rs 9,000 crores relief project from the ministry. It also said "if you have to push it we will forward it to the Orissa Chief miMister’s house. Go and meet him". The conversation was related to some mining lease in Orissa. Mr Patnaik claimed that his Government had proved to be the most transparent during the last four years’ tenure in the state and denied that any Australian company had been favoured with mining license or lease. The Chief Minister admitted that the text of the video CD dragging his name into the controvesry had caused a negative impact and remarked any one was free to say anything but this kind of personal insinuation was most ‘unhealthy’. Asked whether he was contemplating to initiate any action in view of his name being dragged into the controversy, Mr Patnaik said he did not have the details and he has to have a close look into the matter before any comment. "Had it been our Government, things would have been different", Mr Patnaik said adding it was upto the Central Government to take a decision on the issue. (UNI) |
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